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Journal article
Predation of baitfishes associated with whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef
Marine biology, Vol.170(11), 140
2023
Abstract
Baitfishes may aggregate around megafauna such as whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) to gain protection from larger predatory fishes. Here, we used videos from deployments of animal-borne cameras on whale sharks and provided by tourism operators at Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia to document large schools of trevally (Carangidae spp.) consuming entire schools of baitfishes (Carangidae spp.) swimming with whale sharks within 2–45 s. These videos showed that small baitfishes are still very vulnerable to predatory fishes when accompanying whale sharks, refuting the hypothesis that whale sharks provide baitfishes shelter from predators. It thus seems more likely that the association between whale sharks and baitfishes may confer other advantages such as reduced costs of locomotion and/or enhanced feeding opportunities for baitfishes rather than protection from predation.
Details
- Title
- Predation of baitfishes associated with whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef
- Authors/Creators
- Christine Barry - Flinders UniversityAdrian C. Gleiss - Murdoch University, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative TherapeuticsLuciana C. Ferreira - Australian Institute of Marine ScienceMichele Thums - Australian Institute of Marine ScienceRandall W. Davis - Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M UniversityLee A. Fuiman - The University of Texas Marine Science InstituteNaomi R. Roche - Naomi Rose PhotographyMark G. Meekan - Australian Institute of Marine Science
- Publication Details
- Marine biology, Vol.170(11), 140
- Publisher
- Springer Berlin Heidelberg
- Grant note
- Perry R. Bass Chair in Fisheries Mariculture at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute Santos Ltd Australian Institute of Marine Science (http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100008344) Murdoch University
- Identifiers
- 991005605570007891
- Copyright
- © 2023 The Author(s)
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.2 Marine Biology
- 3.2.92 Fisheries Ecology
- Web Of Science research areas
- Marine & Freshwater Biology
- ESI research areas
- Plant & Animal Science